Banding machine and methods

ABSTRACT

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING PACKETS OF COMMERCIAL PAPER. A HEAT SEALABLE BANDING STRIP IS WITHDRAWN FROM A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY AND POSITIONED ON A BASE PLATE. A STACK OF COMMERCIAL PAPER IS PLACED ON THE BASE PLATE AND PRESSURE PLATES THEN PRESS THE STACK. NEXT, ADDITIONAL BANDING MATERIAL IS WRAPPED ABOUT THE BASE PLATE, STACK, AND PRESSURE PLATES, AND HEAT SEALED ON ITSELF TO ENCIRCLE THE ASSEMBLY. FINALLY, THE BANDING STRIP IS SEVERED FROM THE CONTINUOUS SUPPLY AND THE PRESSURE PLATES ARE RELEASED TO PERMIT REMOVAL OF THE BANDED PACKET.

Sept- 20, 1971 R. c. MARSHALL BANDING MACHINE AND METHODS 4 Sheets-sheet 1 Filed April 7, 1969 V INVENTOR wS X l N @X wm l Ric/24rd 6'. Mamba# BY l Mggn sus SePt- 20, 1971 R. c. MARSHALL BANDING MACHINE AND METHQDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 7, 1969 INVENTOR /Q/'c/m/'a' C. Mars/2a SehPt 20, 1971 R. c. MARSHALL y 3,605,375

BANDING MACHINE AND METHODS Filed April '7. 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gf m M n J f m a:

l l INVENTOR Hicham C. Mamd/ Sept' 20 '1971 R. c. MARSHALL BANDING MACHINE AND METHODS 4 Sheets-Sheet t Filed April 7, 1969 INVENTOR Richard 6. Mam/26W BY J 3,605,375 BANDING MACHINE AND METHODS Richard C. Marshall, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Automatic Bander Corporation, Kansas City, Mo. Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 613,615, Feb. 2, 1967. This application Apr. 7, 1969, Ser.

Int. Cl. B65b 13/02, 13/20, 27/08 U.S. Cl. 53-3 v7 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 613,615, filed Feb. 2, 1967, entitled Automatic Check Bander, now abandoned.

Heretofore, various banding devices have been developed and utilized in manufacturing facilities such as devices for the banding of envelopes into packets in association with envelope manufacturing processes wherein a multitude of packets are formed and banded in assembly line type fashion. These devices employ methods and apparatus of such a nature that their adaptation to commercial facilities such as banks and the like (where tremendous quantities of currency, checks and other commercial papers are banded on a daily and even hourly basis) is impractical. In such latter establishments, materials of this nature are typically banded through manual processes employing very simple mechanisms which serve only to compress the paclket prior to a manual banding or wrapping of the band about the compressed packet thereby providing an extremely slow process consuming large quantities of man hours to complete a relatively simple operation.

An object of my invention is to provide new and improved banding apparatus and process wherein individual packets of material such as checks, currency or similar articles may be rapidly andefliciently banded together to form a packet.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods of and apparatus for improved at material stack banding of such character that utilization thereof in banks and other commercial establishments becomes eminently practical, resulting in considerable savings in time, labor and expense.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus wherein individual stacks of materials such as checks or currency may be placed into a banding de- United States Patent O 3,605,375 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 vice, said stacks thereafter quite rapidly banded and then ejected or removed from the device, with the latterthere-y after automatically prepared for receipt of a following pack of material.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods of and apparatus for delivering a continuous strip of banding material to a band wrapping assembly or device, where a pack of material to be banded is placed in the wrapping assembly or device in spaced relationship to a portion of said strip and thereafter said strip is automatically wrapped about said pack of material, the apparatus and device and process being continuously operative, with all steps of the process and operationy being executed in timed sequence, whereby the operator need only place the stack of material to be banded in the wrapping assembly, thereafter being able to extract therefrom a fully banded packet in a very short time interval.

This invention relates to banding mechanisms and methods and refers more particularly to mechanism and methods for rotating a pack of articles or materials to be banded about an axis thereof, with one end of a strip of heat sealable strip banding material applied thereto, thereby to Wrap the strip of banding material about such pack.

The invention provides an improved and simplified device for banding packs of materials capable of being rotated about an axis thereof. It also provides for the banding of packs of materials by gripping an end of a heat sealable strip of banding material between the pack: to be wrapped and a support surface having a high coefficient of friction therebetween, thereby to rotatively drivethe pack and supporting surface and tol cause the strip of banding material to be wrapped thereabout.

The instant invention relates to a machine for suc-l cessively forming orderly bundles containing a plurality of elongate articles to be wrapped together, including means for wrapping the bundles with a wrapping strip.. This is accomplished by an improved wrapping means which includes means for holding the articles and means for rotating the holding means to cause the articles to be rotated (instead of holding the articles still and rotating the wrapping mechanism around them).

The invention relates to high speed banding of checks, currency envelopes, and similar flat articles. This involves progressively assembling a stack of the flat articles,

as fast as produced or delivered, in successive packs of. varied number or size, and wrapping about each stack or' pack a narrow band, whose overlap ends much be pressed and held together for adhesive or heat sealing contact.V

This invention further relates to a process of banding stacks of ilat sheet-like objects positioned one on top of the other, such as labels, card boards, ilat folding boxes, sheets of paper, newspapers, letters, etc.

Hitherto stacks of labels, etc. have usually been banded manually by means of a paper strip, the ends of which were glued together one on top of the other. Many other branches of industry also require this work of banding several or numerous flat, sheetlike, stacked up objects such as typing paper, newspapers, sheets of cardboard, letters, etc.

This invention is also concerned with process and mechanism for training flexible material, such as a strip of banding material about packages and the like. In the process, a free end of banding material is gripped at the package, thereafter, the banding material being drawn onto the package from a supply by means -whereby the banding strip is circulated orbitally and unidirectionally in a binding plane about the package.

A purpose of the instant invention is to provide methods of and apparatus for banding packages within a considerable range of sizes.

This invention additionally relates to improved banding machines for envelopes and like articles. Such machines, once actuated, may automatically apply and secure a wrapping band of plastic or paper tape or similar material around a stack of envelopes or similar articles to produce a bundle containing a number of such articles which can be handled thereafter as a unit. Many prior machines for this purpose are relatively slow in operation, undependable in action and require the constant attention of an operator in order to perform reliably.

The term envelope is intended to include all articles of like at character such as cards, folders, mailing pieces, etc. which are adapted to be banded in the manner here discussed.

My device is adapted in a first instance to handle repeatedly stacks of material which are uniform in height or which have a counted number of articles therein. However, it also can repeatedly handle both undersized and oversize packages with or without counting of the elements therein.

My device also accommodates a wide variety of size and types of materials to be banded in the banding machine without making major alterations to the necessary mechanisms (variations in lateral width, length, or thickness of the stack).

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact machine which occupies a relatively small Hoor space and which may be moved from one location to another to serve different banding needs or other materials processing or classifying equipment.

An object of the invention is to provide methods and apparatus whereby the article pack banding operation may be quickly and easily effected in an automatic manner (once the device is initially activated by the operator) which substantially reduces, if not completely eliminates, the need for skilled manual labor and which utilizes inexpensive material for the banding operation so the cost of packaging and banding is not unduly increased.

The banded package produced by the instant method and apparatus is such that the individual members or items of the pack are so firmly united with each other that they in effect constitute a single unit. Thus, if the package is engaged, lifted or carried by grasping one of the members of the pack at any portion thereof, its mates will follow along undisturbed, without essentially changing their relative positions.

The invention provides a fully automatic (once activated) and foolproof banding operation which can be completely integrated with the normal operations (such as classifying and feeding) involving the materials to be banded.

One feature is a method of combining numbers of justopposed or just-stocked articles into a unitary package by wrapping around a group or stack of said articles a narrow, exible band comprising 1) laying a leading portion of a continuous strip or band across a support for said stack of articles, (2) engaging said stack of articles with said band portion, (3) paying out an additional length of said strip to wrap the median portion of said group around side surfaces and edges thereof, (4) moving the trailing portion of said ribbon to overlapping face to face engagement with said leading portion to join said portions and (5 severing said strip after joinder.

The inventive apparatus may be broadly described as a machine for wrapping stacks of articles with tape, said machine including a supporting structure and wrapping means, said wrapping means comprising a first lower flat jaw member rotatably attached to said supporting structure, a second set of upper at jaw members also rotatably attached to said supporting structure, said jaw members movable toward and away from one another whereby to form a stack compressing assembly with the stack of articles to be wrapped carried between said jaw members, means for laying the free end from a supply of tape on the lower one of said jaw members, means for rotating said upper and lower jaw members and a stack of material seized therebetween, whereby to cause said pack to be rotated thereby to wrap tape from said supply around said pack, and means for moving said jaws toward and away from one another.

According to the present invention, a banding machine includes a stack reception and support zone, means to draw a length of banding tape from a supply and to position it across said reception and support zone preparatory to the reception of a stack thereon, a gripper device adapted to grip the stack and the leading free end of the tape, said gripper rotatably moveable to draw more of said tape around the remaining sides of the stack in the zone, whereby the stack is encircled by a loop of tape, means to secure the free end of the tape to the portion thereof leading from said loop back to the supply, and means to sever the secured loop from said portion.

An apparatus for bundling elongate iiat articles including means for transferring a tie band from a source of supply thereof to the position where a plurality or stack of articles is gripped in preparation to banding or tying.

The invention provides a mechanism for wrapping the heat sealable tape about a rotating stack of articles, the tape being applied to the stack by devices which are composed of a relatively few moving parts.

The machine has an article support where a number of articles'are accumulated in bundle form. Once positioned on the bundle forming station, the articles are compressed into a compact stack or bundle, this operation involving a pair of spaced gripping jaws engaging opposite sides of the stack. The bundle is then rotated about its axis, while a tape applying assembly spaced along the axis of the rotating Ibundle applies heat sealable tape to the bundle, thereby securing the articles into the bundle.

Presently known check processing devices produce bundles of checks in a steady stream of bundles. Mechanisms which are associated with the output of such devices must, therefore, be capable of accepting and working with a constant feed of bundles of checks at high speeds.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for applying a lband around the varying sized groups or packs of checks at high speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a check banding device in which the banding tape is under complete control at all times and which uses a heat sealable tape during the banding operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a banding tape control structure whereby the tape is carried through the machine in a precise manner during the entire banding operation and during the preparation therefor and the aftermath thereof.

Uiform accurate banding can be accomplished at high spee The machine lends itself to acceptance to a wide variety and size of feed materials and packs of feed materials.

An object of the invention is to provide methods of fnd apparatus for packaging articles such as paper money in predetermined or variable sums. Usually, such packagS comprise bills of the needed amounts totally a required figure, these bills being stacked and wrapped with a band on which the total is marked. rIt has been customary in the past to do this packaging on an individual basis, with operators who count out the individual basis, with operators who count out the individual bills,

place them in a stack and slip the stack into a preformed band. This process has been found to be inefficient and time consuming, and is especially unsatisfactory during rush hours, when institutions such as banks must hand out large amounts of money in a small space of time. The conventional hand packaging .process is also unsatisfactory in that it is subject in great extent to human error, since there is no simple mechanical procedure which must be followed in packaging the bills.

Another object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of previous methods of packaging paper money and to provide an improved device whereby this packaging may be done with extreme rapidity and with a minimum chance of error.

Another object is to provide a `banding machine which reduces the actions required by the operator to a minimum, providing a simple mechanical procedure for each operator which is the same, no matter what the lvalue and number of the bills on the package may be.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved banding machine which is versatile in operation which can be used to make packages of widely different number and denominations of bills.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved banding machine and process in which the bills, checks, etc. will be held firmly by the surrounding band after the package is formed.

A typical wrapping machine or banding machine of the kind to which this invention relates comprises (1) a support for an article to be wrapped, (2) a banding mechanism which acts rst to secure the free end of a supply of tape with respect to the article or stack of articles to be banded (3) thereafter, the mechanism acts to draw tape from the supply thereof and apply it to the article. In order to make the tape binder thus apply to the article or stack as securely as possible, the wrapping operation is continued ordinarily until an overlap of the tape has been formed. A heat seal is effected. The tape is then severed. The newly formed free end of the tape supply is then fixed or placed in a position where it may be automatically attached to or aixed with relation to another article or stack of articles to be wrapped by a succeeding wrapping operation.

In this kind of a `banding machine, it is convenient and desirable to guide the tape being applied or to be applied to the article or stack of articles by passing it over supporting surfaces which, in addition to serving to guide the tape with respect to the stack, additionally dispose the tape conveniently for serving and for subsequent attachment to another stack of articles to be banded.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods of and apparatus for banding stacks of materials, said method and apparatus capable of performing the desired banding operation in that it incorporates elements and components which continuously engage and support the banding strip, film or wrap during the banding operation.

This invention thus relates, in general, to methods of and apparatus for banding stacks of material with a pliable material supplied in a continuous, elongated web. It further relates methods of and apparatus for banding stacks of material capable of utilizing a pliable wrapping strip of the type characterized as resilient, heat scalable film.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. l is a side view of a banding device constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention and shown with parts thereof broken away to more clearly illustrate the details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device as shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the device of FIG. l (taken from left to right from the left side of the view of FIG. 1);

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the device of FIG. 1 (taken from right to left from the right side of the view of FIG. l);

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line S-S of FIG. 2 in t-he direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is a side view taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows.

The band wrapping assembly includes a cradle or material pack holding and retaining means (particularly cradle plates 463 and 64) rotatably mounted with respect rto the basic frame on a pair of vertical support members 10 and .11. The band wrapping assembly is operatively driven in a rotatable manner about a transverse axis by a chain drive system (chains 87 and 88).

The combined pack and band holding assembly includes a pair of spaced, opposed retainers generally designated (lower) 16 and (upper) 18 interconnected by a driving assembly. The latter effects relative up and down movement (simultaneously) between said retainers 16 and 18 whereby to engage opposed surfaces of the material pack in a clamping engagement. The pack is clamped in a desired relative position to a longitudinally extending length of banding material 25, one end portion of lche banding material disposed adjacent the lower one of the clamped surfaces of the pack between the lower retainer (plate 19) and the pack and transverse to the axis of rotation of the holding assembly.

The lower retainer 16 is comprised of a base plate 19 for receiving the strip of banding material thereon and also the material pack to be banded, the latter in overlying relationship to said band. Base plate 19 includes a pair of opposed plate portions 19a and 19b connected along their rearward edge portion by central strip 19C. Thus, said portions 19a and 19b and said central strip 19C have edge portions dening a centrally located notch 20 (FIG. 2).

The upper retainer 18 is comprised of a pair of horizontally opposed, pressure plate assemblies 21 and 22, each adapted for clamping engagement with the upper surface of the material pack to be banded, whereby to retain said pack between the base plate 19 and the pressure plate assemblies 21 and 22. The pressure plate assemblies 21 and 22 are each movable transversely of the longitudinal axis of the banding assembly horizontally toward one another to a central position before clamping engagement with the material pack and are movable in a reverse manner outwardly from the central position upon completion of the banding operation.

The pressure plate assemblies 21 and 22 are each com.- prised of a frame 23 or 24, a pressure plate 21 or 22, and a pressure cylinder 25 or 26.

When the pressure plates 21 and 22 are in central position, their end portions are each disposed in overlying opposed relationship to the central stripl 19C of the base plate 19 whereby the pressure plate end portions 21 and 22 and said central strip 19e` are employed for clamping the strip of banding material between said central strip 19C and the pack of material, thereby holding said strip of banding material in a desired relative position adjacent one of the side surfaces of the pack of material.

It should be noted that, upon the lband wrapping operation, the strip is wrapped over the opposed end portions 21 and 22 of the pressure plates, rather than in contacting relationship with the -upper surface of the pack of material. The pressure plates 21 and 22 are then disengaged from between the wrapped strip and the pack of material by providing pressure to the pistons 25 and 26 to drive the plates 23 and 24 outwardly away from one another, tihus sliding the end portions 21 and 2-2 from beneath the strip. The pressure plates 21 and 22 then return inwardly over the strip retaining compression on the pack. The base plate 19 and the pressure plates 21 and 22 are then vertically displaced from one another and return means such as springs employed to return the plates 21 and 22 to their central position.

In operation, the apparatus initially has a longitudinal strip 25 of banding material disposed transversely to the axis of the rotation of the holding assembly and in overlying contacting relationship to the central strip 19t` of base plate 19 and extending rearwardly therefrom. A pack of material, such as currency, checks or similar articles are then laid in overlying contacting relationship to the opposed portions 19a and 19b of the base plate 19.

During the wrapping operation of the band about the pack, the band is wrapped over and around the central end portions 21 and 22 of the pressure plates such that the pressure plate portions 21 and 22 are disposed between the strip and the pack of material. Upon completion of the rotary movement of the holding apparatus the pressure plates 21 and 22 are driven from their central position between the longitudinal strip and the pack of material. The pressure plate assemblies are then separated, together with the base plate, from clamping engagement with the banded stack of material. The stack, now fully banded, is lying on base plate v19 and may be removed manually or may be ejected by the forward driving action as a new longitudinal portion of banding strip is delivered for disposition on base plate 19.

Referring to the various figures of the drawings, there is seen a cabinet top or base plate S0. Mounting brackets and 11 are vertically mounted on base plate 51 which is secured to plate 50 by bolts 52. Bolts 52 also secure shaft brackets 53 and 54 under plate 50 which rotatably mount and receive shaft 55 therebetween. Upper mounting brackets 56 and 57 are mounted in vertically adjustable fashion on members 10 and 11 by bolts 58 and 59. Fixed onto platform seat 56a and 57a by bolts such as 60 (through platform 57a) are means 61 and 62 to mount the check pack handling and wrapping assembly.

Cradle plates 63 and 64 have forward extension members 65 and 66. Base plate 19 is mounted on vertically extending slides of rack and gear systems in extensions 65 and 66 by members 67 and 68 and by bolts 69 and 70. Pressure cylinders 25 and 26 are connected to plates 65 and 66 by tubular extensions 71 and 72 and bolts 73 and 74. Check engaging plates or arms are mounted on eX- tensible piston members in cylinders 25 and 26. Tubular supporting members 71 and 72 are each operatively connected to one of the rack members (not seen) of a double rack and gear drive system. Bottom plate 19, via bolts 69 and 70, is mounted or operatively connected to the other rack member of the double rack and gear system. The double rack and gear system is operatively connected to the driving piston arms 75 and 76 of vertical pneumatic cylinders 77 and 78. Return springs (not seen) are operatively connected to said driving pistons.

A flow of air to cylinders 77 and 78 effects downward movements of the piston arms 75 and 76, causing the double rack and gear system to be actuated, thereby pulling base plate 19 and arms 21 and 22 into clamping relationship with longitudinal band and material pack placed on plate 19. The air pressure systems of cylinders 77 and 78 are operatively connected through a pressure relief valve (not seen) whereby only a predetermined pressure is applied to the material pack and band with said valve activating a switch for cutting off the flow of pressure through cylinders 77 and 78. As pressure medium is supplied to cylinders 77 and 78, same is also supplied through a conduit operatively connected to the cylinders 25 and 26 for driving the arms 21 and 22 to their central position.

The check stack holding assembly, as seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, has a pair of rotatably mounted spindles 79 and 80 received in bearings 81 and 82 at its connections to the frame members 56 and 57. Each of said spindles 79 and 80 has pressure medium ow conduits defined therein (not seen) for effecting the flow of the pressure medium such as air through them and into cylinders 77 and 78.

Bearings or mounting portions 81 and 82 encircling said spindles 79 and 80 have flow connections 83 and 84 to effectively supply the uid pressure through the ducts in spindles 79 and 80 to cylinders 77 and 78.

Each of the spindles 79 and 80 has a sprocket wheel 85 or 86 operatively connected thereto for driving engagement with chains 87 or 88. Chains 87 and 88 are operatively engaged `with a pair of opposed sprockets 8-9 and 90 mounted at the ends of shaft 55.

It is thus seen that cradle plates 63 and 64 carry a base plate 19 and upper arms 21 and 22. Arms 21 and 22 may be moved inwardly and outwardly relative to one another by virtue of pneumatic cylinders 25 and 26. Upper arms 21 and 22 and lower plate 19 may be moved toward and away from one another (vertically in the view of FIG. 3) by means of the double rack and gear system described. The latter is driven by pneumatic cylinders 77 and 78 which connect by arms 91 and 92 to the other ends of piston rods and 76 and blocks 93 and 94. The latter each connected to one of the vertical members of the rack and gear system on each of plates 65 and 66. Vertical movement of the arms 75 and 76 move the check stack engaging upper and lower means toward and away from one another, this pneumatic pressure being supplied through conduits such as 83 thereafter passing through like conduits (not seen) in spindles 79 and 80. The means for rotating the cradle plates 63 and 64 carrying the check engaging means is provided by the chains 87 and 88 engaging the upper and lower sprockets on the spindles 79 and Fixed atop secondary base plate 51 is a mounting plate 95, secured by bolts 96 (FIG. 3). Plate 95 carries an upwardly extending pneumatic cylinder 97. On the upwardly extending piston arm 98 cylinder-97 is mounted a horizontal plate 99. Mounted on plate 99 is a heat sealing means (heating element) 100 the rearward portion of said plate 99 bearing vertically extending tension bar 101. As may best be seen in FIG. 2, the heat sealing means 100, when the cradle plates 63 and 64 are vertical, may pass upwardly through the gap 20; in lower plate 19 in front of plate portion 19e. Tension bar 101, on the other hand, passes upwardly behind plate portion 19C.

Referring particularly to FIGS. l, 2 and 4, at 103 is seen the base plate for mounting bracket 104. The latter receives another vertically sliding plate therein which is vertically adjustable with respect thereto via bolts 106. Fixed to plate 105 is a horizontal shelf 107. To the right in the view of FIG. l is a second base plate 108 fixed to plate 50 by bolts 109. Plate 108 supports a vertical side plate 110 having a slot 111 therein. Side plate y110 is duplicated on the other side of base plate 110 lwith a parallel vertical side plate 112. A front vertical plate 113 makes a three sided housing positioned on base plate 108, the housing being open rearwardly.

Another base plate 114 is secured to plate 50l by bolts 115, supporting a rearwardly extending but vertical plate or mounting bracket 116. A reel or roll 117 of heat sealable film, tape or banding material is removably mounted on a central core 118 fixed to the bracket 116, same removably fixed thereon by bolt 119. The forward extension 120 of the heat scalable film then passes under a dancing roller or roll 121, same carried by a shaft 122 received in the slots of the plates 110 and 112 as seen at 111. Film 120 then passes upwardly over a roller 123 which cooperates with brake shoe 124 powered by pneumatic cylinder 125 having piston 126 carrying shoe 124. Bracket 127 mounts the back brake with respect to plates 110 and 112.

Elongate horizontal track members 128 and 129 are fixed at their rearward end to plate 113 and at their forward ends by bolts to shelf 107 (see FIG. 5). An elongate feed rack shaft or bar 131 is received for sliding to and fro movement in a horizontal direction by said tracks 128 and 129 by means of elongate flanges 131a and 13lb along the sides thereof. Mounted above shaft 131 and connected thereto for to and fro motion therewith is a mating block 132. Fixed to the forward top portion of block 132 is a pair of elongate angles 133a and b forming with their upper faces a tapeway. The means fixing block 132 to feed rack shaft 132 is bolt or screw 134. Mounted on top of elongate angles 122a and b and extending rearwardly thereof is an elongate tape or film receiving channel 135. This is held down on bar 133 by screws 136. Frame 137 is fixed by screws 138 to the outer side of the track 128. Rigidly mounted to frame 137 and extending vertically downwardly therefrom is `plate 139 to which is mounted (extending rearwardly therefrom in a horizontal direction) pneumatic cylinder 140. Piston rod 141 of cylinder 140 is fixed into a block 142 which is rigidly fixed to the underside of shaft or bar 131. Also fixed to frame 137 is a block 143, mounted thereto by screws 144. Block 143 carries on its rearward side an adjustable forward stop 146.

Passage of compressed air to cylinder 140 extrudes rod 141 which drives block 142 and shaft 131 forwardly (to the left in FIG. 1). Mounted on shaft 141 is block 132 which carries forward therewith elongate bar 133, those members forwardly attached thereto to be described and the tape strip 135. Return of the piston rod 141 into the cylinder 140 brings back these members to the position seen in FIG. 1.

A pair of vertically extending side plates 147 and 148 (fixed by screws 147a and 148a to tracks 147 and 148) are capped by a horizontal connecting top wall 149. Wall 149 carries a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 150y driving shaft 151. Shaft 151 has shoe 152 at the lower end thereof with tape engaging pads 153 and 154 on the underside thereof adapted to overlie and engage film or tape 120 between them and the upper horizontal portions of channels 133 and 133a.`

Mounted on the front end of angles 133a and b by screws 160 is elongate fiat plate 16 having vertical guides 162 and 163 at the sides thereof. Rearwardly of guide plates 162 and 163 is positioned a frame generally designated 164 which carries vertical pneumatic cylinder 165. Brake shoe 166 is driven by the extrudable and retractable piston rod of pneumatic cylinder 165. The end of member 161 is downwardly turned as at 167 to carry three members. Two of these (best seen in FIG. 2) are bolts 168 and 169 adapted to knock the banded packet of checks off the lower plate 19, the other, 170, being an air outlet to blow the end of the tape into the desired position with respect to the tension bar 101 and lower plate portion 19C.

Immediately in front of roller 123 which cooperates with brake shoe 124 of the back brake is positioned a film hold-down means. A pin 171 is seen in FIG. l riding along the outside of track 128. This pin extends through lower block 172, lower film carrier plate 173 and as a guide through upper clamping member 174. A vertical pneumatic cylinder 175 has the extendable and retractable piston rod 176 thereof fixed to shoe 174, whereby to move same toward or away from member 173 to clamp film or tape 120 therebetween. Block member 177 is mounted above and rigidly attached to shaft 131 at the upper surface of the latter, whereby the entire lm hold-down assembly moves to the left and to the right in the view of FIG. 1 as shaft 131 is driven to the left and to the right by pneumatic cylinder 140.

Particularly referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, behind cradle plate 64 and mounted thereon is a knife cut-off device. This (see FIG. 4) includes horizontal plate 180 fixed to the rear face of cradle plate 64, same having vertical plate 181 fixed to one end thereof. Plate 181 carries in rigid mount pneumatic cylinder 182. Same drives piston shaft 183 which carries a framework consisting of vertical plate 184, horizontal bar 185 mounted thereon and a knife or razor edge blade 186 depending downwardly therefrom. Pressure furnished to cylinder 182 in FIG. 4 moves shaft 183 to the right in the view, moving blade 186 across the gap between plates 63 and 64 to sever the tape, when same is lifted upwardly by tension bar 101.

THE PROCESS OF BANDING CHECKS O-R OTHER MATERIALS (l) The description starts with the ejection of a wrapped bundle of checks from the open jaws of the cradle (the wrapped bundle is resting on the lower most jaw or bottom plate 19).

(2) The operator then places a new bundle of unwrapped checks in the cradle (straddling the lower plate), the apparatus having its jaws open in the configuration of FIG. 3, with the cradle rear walls themselves perpendicular (cradle plates 63 and 64).

(3) The operator, in a preferred control system (not shown), simultaneously pushes two buttons (which insures that the operators hands are free of the cradle).

(4) The sets of check stack engaging means, comprising the two separate upper arms 21 and 22, and the one lower plate 19, move simultaneously toward one another, driven through a rack and gear system by the pair of air cylinders 77 and 78, one on each side of the cradle plates 64 and 63. (This simultaneous movement of both check engaging members saves piston length.)

(5) The motion of the upper arms 21 and 22 and lower plate 19 toward one another stop when the p.s.i. pressure input (typically 9() p.s.i.) to the cylinders 77 and 78 is equalled by the back pressure from the engaging members on the check stack.

(6) The two cradle plates 63 and 64, carrying both the upper arm 21 and 22 systems and the lower plate 19, start rotation around spindles 79 and 80, with the bottom of the cradle plates moving toward the observer in the view of FIG. 3.

(7) At substantially 95 rotation of the cradle plates 63 and 64, the back brake 124 goes on, whereby to apply tension to the heat sensitive film 120 being pulled from the roll 117, same thereby thereafterl permitted to slip through back brake 124 only under tension.

(8) The cradle plates 63 and 64 continue to rotate and finish 360 of rotation.

(9) The heat sealing means 100, driven by its piston 97, rises to the bottom of the Wrapped checks, through the cut out portion 20 of the bottom plate 19 and effects a seal, tape to ltape or film to film.

(10) After the heat sealing action, the heat seal 100 means drops, more slowly than the knife cut-off acts.

(11) Simultaneously with the heat seal means drop, the knife cut-off 186 (best seen in FIG. 4), driven by its piston 182, extends laterally and cuts off the tape or film 25.

(9a) Simultaneous with the rise of the heat seal 100 (step 9), the tension bar 101 rises under the same power as the heat seal means thereby pulling the lm or tape 25 to the maximum tension. The tension bar also holds the film high enough to be cut with the blade 186 of the knife cutoff.

(12) As the knife cut-off 1-86 retracts to the position of FIG. 4, the top pressure arms or engaging members 21 and 22 on the cradle plates retract laterally. This pulls them out from under the film or tape 25. The top pressure members 21 and 22 immediately are returned inwardly back over the film, still holding the check stack in ltight engagement.

(13) At this time, the front brake 166 and the rear film hold-down 174 go on. Thereafter, the feed rack shaft 131 then starts forwardly (toward the cradles 63 and 64), powered by its drive piston 140 through the feed rack drive connection 142. The film hold-down and the front brake 152 is stationary because it is not mounted on the feed rack shaft 131 (rather the guides 128 and 129).

(14) After a quarter inch of ltravel of the feed rack shaft or `bar 131, and all means carried thereby, the back brake 124 goes off. The velocity of the feed mechanism of the film from the tape roll 117 is such that l l the dancing roll 121 is most preferred or required in order to eliminate take-up shock on the roll of film.

(15) The front end 167 of the feed rack operates to eject the bound stack of checks and moves forwardly over the heat seal means 100.

(16) It should be noted that the extension of the film out from the front end of the feed rack is less than an inch after the action of the knife cut-off 186.

(17) The feed rack :bar 131 stops in its forward position. The front brake 166 and rear lilm hold-down 174 both release. The center stationary brake 152 goes on simultaneously therewith. (The lm 120 was always fed over the center brake feed channels 133a and b and now the brake pads 153 and 144 grip the film thereagainst.)

(18) The feed rack 131 returns to the position of FIG. 1.

(19) As the feed rack retracts, exhaust air from the feed rack drive air cylinder is emitted through an orifice 170 in front of the feed rack push bar 167. The purpose of this is to insure that the lm will lie straight over the bottom plate 19 on the cradle plate 63 and 64 faces.

(20) The center stationary brake 152 (which is a failsafe to insure that the film extends outwardly 100% of the time) remains on while the feed rack 131 is back in the position of FIG. 1. It is not put into off position until the feed rack 131 starts forwardly again.

(21) A new stack of checks are laid over the film and onto the bottom pressure plate or engaging means 19.

(22) The operator again pushes both buttons to start the activation cycle.

(23) Once the cycle has started, there is effectively no tension on the film pull exerted by the center brake 152.

Broadly speaking, the process may be described as follows:

(l) A band or strip 120 of banding material is advanced so that a lead portion of it is laid on the lower gripping means 19.

(2) Checks are then laid on this lead portion of the band or strip and the lower gripping means in a stack.

(3) The check stack and the band portion are gripped by the upper (21 and 22) and lower (19) gripping means with the band received only partly in the grip.

(4) The cradle plates 63 and 64 are then spun so that the rest of the band length desired is pulled around the checks and over the upper gripping frneans 21 and 22 (here t-wo laterally retractable arms).

A sealing means 100 (here shown as a heat seal effected on a heat scalable film) effects a strip to strip or band to band seal.

(6) The upper gripping means 21 and 22 are laterally retracted from under the band 120 and then back over the band.

(7) In the instance shown, where a heat scalable film is utilized and a heat sealing device 100, there is a knife 186 or other cut-olf means and step to sever the continuous feed band from the band heat-sealed around the checks.

(8) The ejection operation takes place.

There is thus a stationary supply of banding film or strip material and a track for supplying same. There is further provided a moving feed means which reciprocates to and fro, whereby to move the banding tape, strip or the like so that the lead portion of it is placed on the lower gripping means so that the check stack can be laid thereon. The forward motion of the band feed carrier knocks out the banded bunch of checks. The front end of the band is moved out with the carrier, the carrier is then retracted, leaving the band on the lower gripping means. Once the checks are laid on the band and lower gripping means, the lower and upper gripping means forcefully grip therebetween the lead part of the band and the check stack or bundle. This gripped stack or group of checks iS then rotated 360 while the remainder of the band is wrapped around the bundle or stack. The la-teral retrac- 12 tion of the divided upper engaging members frees the band and the upper engaging members from the band, preparing for the vertical retraction of the gripping members from one another whereby to release the bundle of checks.

Tests for integrity of the band include dropping the banded checks to the floor or throwing them against a wall without breakage of the band. A tension test as to proper banding of a stack or group of checks would be to grasp any one of the bills, edge or center and shake the banded stack whereby to see if any of the bills pull out or the group disintegrates.

Base plate 19 (forward of portion 19c) permits the heat seal housing to come through (above the level of the base plate 19) and touch the checks or rather the heat-scalable tape against the checks in its overlapped position. The heat seal is made at a position where the base plate portion 19C is not struck by the heat seal housing. The length of stroke of the heat seal is dependant on the height (thickness) of the stack of checks to be banded. That is, since the upper pressure plates 21 and 22 and the lower base plate 19 move toward one another on the double rack and gear system, the vertical movement of plate 19 depends on the height of the stack as well as the vertical movement of the upper members. A stop is provided on the under side of plate portion 19C to limit the travel of the heat seal.

The bottom plate is arcuate downwardly in side View, that is, the panel of the bottom plate which constitutes the portion 19e and the equivalent width on either side thereof is angled downward centrally of plate 19C, while an equivalent width on the outside of plate 19, in the portions 19a and 19b, is angled upwardly. Since the checks are embossed centrally, they tend to be slightly spindleform in side View. The arcuate nature of bottom plate 19 thus permits a fir-m grip on the stack of checks, without all the force concentrated at the center. Further, the rearward panel including portion 19C (to the left in the view of FIG. 2 and to the right in the View of FIG. 1) of the base plate is coated with a silicone rubber. The reason for this is that, when the upper and lower plates come together, the tape, overlying the portion 19C, tries to escape. The silicone rublber coating prevents such.

An additional reason for the double plate motion (both the upper and lower plates moving toward one another on the rack and gear system) is that it tends to make the spin of the gripped checks a circular orbit, rather than an elliptic orbit.

The back brake is provided for tension purposes only. There is preferably provided about a arc grasp against its roller 123. The two traveling brakes (the front brake and the tape hold down) are used to unwind the tape from the roll. The 90-95 travel of the cradles or cradle plates in rotation before the back tension brake goes on is to prevent the tape from pulling out from under the bundle.

There is preferably provided a front idler roller on the front of the feed rack in front of the front brake.

The ejection operation also brings forth a new tape length and deposits same on the lbase plate 19a` portion. The feed rack then goes to the stand-by position shown on all the drawings.

The film is preferably a Mylar lm coated with a heat sealing compound. Such a film has a memory in that, once it is stretched, it tends to return. This is an aid to tightness on a group of banded checks.

Adjustment of the back brake adjusts the tightness of the banded checks. The back brake stays on through the cutoff operation.

The tension bar 101 is of considerable significance, with respect to different heights or thicknesses of check bundles and the like. Thus, the angle of the tape to different heights of bundles will differ. The tension bar severely tensions the tape and tends to reduce this angle to a common denominator.

The heat control onthe heat sealingl means 100 is of considerable significance'and'mustfbe adjusted for the particular tape being used. A'typical'heat would be` 290 F. for a giventape. v t

` The cradles remain closed on the bundle of checksfuntil the heat seal retracts. l

Once the cutoifmeans has translated and cut the tail of tape from the banded checks, the tail is left hanging on the 4banded bunch of checks.- It does not interfere ywith stacking of the checks, nor withvhandling them. Then, when it is desired to break open the bundle again, one may grasp the tail back of the heat seal andpull the bundles open.

When the carriage is retracted, the center brake is on for the purpose of keeping the tape from coming back carried by static electricity.

In rotation of the cradle plates to band the checks, the lower ends thereof move to the left (clockwise) in FIG. 1 and toward the observer in FIG. 3.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the process and apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A process of banding packs of stacked materials, comprising,

laying a portion of a continuous strip of heat-sealable banding material drawn from a source thereof onto a base plate,

laying a stack of the materials to be banded on said base plate over said portion of the strip,

gripping the other side of the stack with a pair of pressure plates thereby to compress the stack against the base plate and portion,

wrapping an additional portion of said strip of b-anding material around the gripped assembly of base plate, band material portion, stack and pressure plates while drawing said additional portion from said source,

adhering one portion of the band to another in heatsealing fashion whereby to eiect a complete continuouscircular band therearound including a portion of each of said plates,

applying tension to said strip adjacent to said banded stack,

severing said strip while same is under tension adjacent said banded stack,

and retracting said plates from under said band and releasing pressure on said lbanded stack whereby to free the banded stack for removal from said base plate.

2. A process of banding packs of stacked materials, comprising:

laying a length of a continuous strip of heat-sealable banding material drawn from a source thereof on a base plate,

laying a pack of stacked materials to be banded on said base plate over a portion of said length, gripping the other side of the pack from said base plate and length with a pair of pressure plates whereby to compress the pack against the base plate and length,

rotating the gripped assembly of base plate, length, pack and pressure plates whereby to wrap the length and an additional portion of the strip of banding material drawn from said source around the pack and pressure plates,

adhering one portion of the strip to another in heatsealing fashion whereby to effect a continuous circular band around the pack and portions of the pressure plates,

applying tension to said strip adjacent to said banded pack,

severing said strip while same is under tension adjacent said banded pack,

14 and thereafter withdrawing the pressure plates from under said band and releasing pressure therefrom on the pack whereby to permit removal of the banded pack from the base plate.

, 3. A process as in claim 2 including drawing a second length of said strip from said source and laying it on said base plate,

., and retaining said second length on said base plate whereby to receive the next pack of materials thereover.

4. A process as in claim 1 including drawing a second portion of said continuous strip from said source thereof and laying it on said base plate,

and retaining said second portion on said plate whereby to receive thereover the next stack.

5. An apparatus for use in banding packs of materials, comprising:

a supporting frame,

a source of heat-sealable banding material in continuous strip form, means rotatably mounted on said frame for holding one of said packs of materials to be banded and a length of a continuous elongate strip of heat-scalable (to itself) banding material,

said strip length held by said holding means in a position abutting one 0f the surfaces of said pack,

means operatively connected to said holding means for rotating said holding means about an axis generally transverse to said strip whereby to rotate said pack held by said holding means and wrap more of the strip around said pack, drawing same from said source,

means on said frame for heat-sealing one portion of said strip to another after same is wrapped around said pack,

means for tensioning a portion of said strip adjacent said pack after heat-sealing,

means for severing the heat-sealed band from the rest of the strip and said source adjacent said pack while the strip is under tension,

and means for drawing another one of said lengths from said source and laying it on said base plate.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5 including means for applying tension to said strip as it is drawn from said source as said pack is rotated.

7. An apparatus for feeding banding material in continuous strip form to a material stack band-wrapping assembly and banding said stack comprising:

a source of heat-sealable (to itself) banding material in continuous strip form,

a supporting frame,

means operatively associated with said frame for supplying lengths of banding material in continuous strip form from said source,

said last means including a mobile carriage assembly on said frame for gripping, carrying and guiding banding material in continuous strip form from said source to said band-wrapping assembly in a discontinuous manner,

means on said frame and connected to said carriage assembly for driving said carriage assembly to and from said band-wrapping assembly,

means for retaining a length of said strip at said bandwrapping assembly after the carriage assembly takes it there, means at said band-wrapping assembly for wrapping said length and more of the strip of banding material circumferentially about a stack of material and operatively associated with said carriage assembly for receiving said limited length of said continuous strip,

said band wrapping means including a second supporting frame,

means rotatably mounted on said second frame for holding said pack and said length of said strip, said length held by said holding means abutting one of the surfaces of said pack,

means operatively connected to said holding means for rotating said holding means about an axis generally transverse to said length and strip to rotate said stack and wrap more of the strip around the pack drawing same from said source,

means on one of said frames for heat-sealing one portion of said strip to another after same is Wrapped around said pack,

means for tensioning a portion of said strip adjacent said pack after heat-sealing,

and means for severing the heat-sealed band from the rest of the strip and said source adjacent said pack While the strip is under tension.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Ehlscheid 531-198 Lyon 53-198 Leslie et al. 53--198X Tschappu 43-198X Smith 53--198X Vates 53-33 10 THERON E. CoNDoN, Primary Examiner N. ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 

